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Chocolate! Need I say more? According to Tinyprints.com “the average American eats 10-12 pounds of chocolate a year. The average Swiss eats 21 pounds a year.” Because Americans love their chocolate any medical studies on chocolate are always of interest. Today’s blog will look at research presented at Europe’s largest medical conference concerning the benefits or detriments of eating chocolate for cardiovascular health.
What I like about this research is that it is tempered in its findings. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, does have health promoting properties called flavonols, which have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risks. This is of course a benefit for chocolate lovers. After comparing seven studies looking at cardiovascular health and chocolate, overall a majority of the studies found a benefit.
There was an overall benefit of 37 percent reduction in heart disease. There was also a 29 percent benefit for stroke patients as well. The research also states that the benefits have to be tempered with the high sugar and fat that is also found in certain types of chocolate. The way I interpret the study is that if you eat good quality dark chocolate without chemicals, milk or sugar added, it can act as a benefit. The chocolate that you find at the check-out counter of grocery stores and drug stores doesn’t count as high quality chocolate.
Finally the study does mention that there are many other foods that contains flavonols and they may be better sources of foods than chocolate. Flavonols are a subset of phytochemicals called Anthocyanin which are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. Examples of foods that contain flavonols are blackberries, green tea, or red apples.
Sources:
Hirschler, Ben. " Is chocolate good for your heart? It depends| Reuters." Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2011.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/29/us-heart-chocolate-idUSTRE77S16H20110829.
"Interesting Chocolate Statistics | Tiny Prints." Stylish Announcements, Invitations, Cards and Stationery Supplies by Tiny Prints. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2011.
http://www.tinyprints.com/interesting-chocolate-statistics.htm.
"Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University." Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2011. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/flavonoids/flavtab2.html.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
“Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who treats the whole person using safe and effective combinations of traditional and natural methods to produce optimal health and well-being in the lives of her patients.
Reviewed August 30, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment3 Comments
Dark Chocolate is manufactured from parts of various plants, it have some health benefits. If an individual consumes a small bar of dark chocolate every day, it will have enormous benefits for the heart and cardiovascular system. http://www.whatisall.com/health/dark-chocolate-health-benefits.html
January 10, 2012 - 1:30pmThis Comment
There is a reason to feel not guilty of eating sweets like chocolate. Somehow it has health benefits. A British study released in which discovered that ingesting chocolate could reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease. Control is also believed to be of key importance, so it doesn't suggest one can eat a whole pint of chocolate guilt-free. Article discussing related subject entitled Study finds link between chocolate and lower risk of heart disease . Believe it or not, but such a good news particularly to those who loves eating it.
September 1, 2011 - 1:57amThis Comment
The problem with chocolate you buy at stores, even the 70% or better cacao, is that it is cooked, destroying much of the healthy properties of chocolate. And it contains processed sugar. Just think if you could get delicious, dark Belgian chocolate without processed sugar, caffeine, or artificial additives, and is not cooked. Well you can and in convenient, individually wrapped pieces. For more information contact me at [email protected], or visit http://mxi.myvoffice.com/kathybryant/. Here's to Healthy Chocolate!
August 31, 2011 - 10:25amThis Comment